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January 24, 2024 – New Zealand’s rising cricket sensation, Rachin Ravindra, has been crowned the ICC Emerging Player of the Year at the prestigious ICC Awards ceremony. The talented left-handed batsman edged out strong contenders, including South African pacer Gerald Coetzee, Sri Lanka’s Dilshan Madushanka, and Indian batting prodigy Yashasvi Jaiswal, as determined by the ICC voting academy.
Ravindra’s remarkable journey to the Emerging Player of the Year award was marked by stellar performances, particularly during the 2023 World Cup in India. Despite entering the tournament with only a handful of ODI caps, the 24-year-old emerged as one of the highest run-scorers, showcasing his batting prowess on the global stage.
Having made his ODI debut for New Zealand in March 2023, Ravindra amassed a total of 820 runs across 21 innings until late December. His extraordinary year included three centuries and three half-centuries in the ODI format. Notably, the left-hander’s spectacular form continued at the 2023 World Cup, where he accumulated an impressive 578 runs. Maintaining an outstanding average of over 64, Ravindra registered three centuries and two additional scores of fifty or more during the tournament.
In a competition featuring cricketing giants like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Quinton de Kock, Ravindra secured the fourth-highest run-scorer position and led his compatriot Daryl Mitchell by 26 runs. His contribution played a pivotal role in New Zealand’s campaign, earning him recognition as the top performer from his country.
Despite stiff competition from emerging speedsters Gerald Coetzee and Dilshan Madushanka, who both featured prominently in the highest wicket-takers list of 2023, Ravindra’s batting prowess and consistency set him apart. Even Indian opening batsman Yashasvi Jaiswal, who played a crucial role in India’s Test series win in West Indies, was unable to clinch the coveted Emerging Player honor.
As Rachin Ravindra’s star continues to rise, cricket enthusiasts eagerly anticipate witnessing the further evolution of this promising talent in the years to come.
